Governor's Fitness Award- Seriously? Seriously.

Picture this, if you will: The State of Michigan is closed due to record snowfalls and poor road conditions. I'm at home, watching Netflix in my basement, sweatpants on, 1 serving of chocolate covered peanuts in a bowl in my lap. Then, the phone rings. It's a State of Michigan office calling. I panic, thinking maybe I was supposed to be at work?!

"Hello?"

"Hi, Elizabeth? This is so-and-so from the Michigan Fitness Foundation. I'm calling to congratulate you on becoming a finalist for the State of Michigan- Governor's Fitness Award for the Conquering Obesity Award. I wanted to give you details about the award process, selection, and the award ceremony. Is this a good time to talk?"

...what?

I tell the lady that she must be mistaken, that I did not submit anything for an award. She told me my friend, Jodi, nominated me and the committee was moved by my story. Therefore, I was chosen as one of three finalists to win this award for 2015.

I. Was. FLOORED. Are you kidding?

I take down the information about the process over the next few months, thank Ms. so-and-so for the call, and text Jodi.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?! Why am I a finalist for a Governor's Fitness Award?! THIS IS YOUR FAULT!"

She replied with a simple smiley face emoticon.

All of the Award Nominees @ the House Chamber

 I started taking care of myself a few years back for me- I never realized I had inspired others to do the same. Heck, I still saw myself as my 300+lb self in my head- I was nowhere near my idea of "fit." When I started to S-L-O-W-L-Y share the news with people (I was extremely embarassed), I got back, more often than not, "Well of COURSE you're a finalist! That's awesome! You inspire so many- you got ME to run my first race!" OK then... I inspired people. Somehow.

I made light of the award nomination- it was because the committee ran out of nominee choices, I was the token female in the category, they wanted someone with a normal story... every excuse came out of my mouth.

In the meantime, I signed up for marathon #2 in Oklahoma City. I was finally going to go and meet the famous Marathon Man himself, Kris, from the From Fat to Finish Line group. I find out that the award ceremony is the night before I fly out to OKC to run. In talking to Kris one night about my upcoming trip, I say "I should probably just skip the ceremony anyway. I'm not going to win, so why go to eat crappy food and clap for the winner politely?" Kris said back, "Whatever. I've never been nominated for an award for my healthy habits. You HAVE to go- you're a bad ass. I don't get why you wouldn't go, even if you don't think you will win. This is awesome!"

He was right. Probably the first and only time he was right, but he was... he was right.

I started to tell more people, and I started to be proud of the nomination. I knew I was not going to win the final award, as the other two in my category were absolutely amazing -one lost over 300lbs and the other lost about 150 while overcoming a mental disability- however I was recognized by someone who I admire (Jodi is one of the strongest, most amazing women I've ever had the chance to work with) and the nomination alone was like winning to me. Plus, even if I didn't win, I still get to go to the award ceremonies, and get to run a marathon 2 days later. Neither of the other nominees have run one, let alone 2, marathons. So there. 

Before the ceremony itself, I was interviewed by a Detroit-area newscaster for the "video entry" portion of the event. Each nominee met with the reporter at his/her town and told the reporter their story. I met the reporter and her camera guy at Amy's studio in Lansing. They asked a few questions about my journey, interviewed Amy and myself, then... had me change into workout clothes to work out on camera. I was NOT prepared for that in any way. The reporter was... odd. And, after finding her on Twitter, I learned that she had already picked out her favorites for each category-- and I learned who my fellow nominees were.

So one nominee lost over 350lbs in less than a year, another one lost about 100lbs while battling cerebral palsy.

I was not going to win. And I was OK with that. I still campaigned for the People's Choice Award, where anyone could vote for any person/group over all of the categories, but I didn't get too worked up about it. Or at least tried not to!

About 3 weeks prior to the award ceremony, I was contacted and asked to send a photo for the program-- after YEARS of hiding from cameras, I had to take nice photos?! One that wasn't a selfie? Katie arranged for me to meet up with her friend, Jodi, who is a photographer. Jodi took some great headshots and I was able to send in a decent, non-sweaty selfie to the committee.

The day of the award ceremony started out with a legislative session where all nominees were given a plaque with their name and category on it, and all nominees were recognized (as a group) by the state Senate. It was a very nice ceremony- one that my mom, some close friends, and my co-workers attended. To have that amount of support was amazing!

That evening, my mom (she was my plus one!) and myself went to Ford Field for the Gala. The night started off with us being allowed onto the field itself, then to the VIP area where we had some drinks (I had water- I was 2 days out from a marathon!) and observed the other nominees. It seemed as though nobody was really comfortable being there, but people were friendly- for the most part. I was really put off by one of the other nominees in my category as he was quite... rude when I went to introduce myself, saying I was truly impressed by his hard work and his online community. He couldn't look me in the eye and just brushed me off. So weird for a guy that has over 2000 followers on Facebook.. but I digress.

Dinner was nice and small, awards were handed out, videos were played (montage, not each person's video), and they highlighted the part in my video where I said my mom was my greatest inspiration. She's honestly the strongest woman I know- between raising 2 kids on her own, getting remarried, then juggling 4 kids, a house, a husband, and a full-time job... I don't know how she does it. My mom started to tear up, and all I could do was grin.

Of course, I did not win my category nor the People's Choice Award (but it went to an amazing guy out of Okemos-- someone who has literally helped me with my running!), but to have these other nominees come up to me and recognize me, saying they were inspired by me.. what a powerful night. One I definitely won't forget. 

Disney Wine and Dine- November 2014

I was invited a few months back to do the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon with some of my friends. The 4th in their group was injured and didn't think she would be able to run it, so I got to run in her place. WOO! Of course, Disney frowns upon the reselling of race bibs, and reselling or transferring of bibs is strictly prohibited-- which I don't understand. You're not running across any international borders, and if you're injured and can't run, you're not entitled to a refund or a deferral, so why eliminate the ability to sell your bib?

But I digress.

So for the last few months, I've been running with Kerry and Amy - they would complete their long run for the week as I completed my mid-week medium run as I trained for the Detroit full. It worked out perfectly. Neither of them have run a half marathon before, and they were excited. The fourth member of the group, Terri, was also preparing for her first half marathon with these girls, but she lives out of town-- so most of her preparation was done on her own.

The weekend of the race finally came- we left on Friday morning and landed in Florida without incident.Thankfully. I was informed on the ride to the airport that Kerry is a nervous flyer- and that description didn't even cover it. She was ok once we were in the air (no turbulance) but getting her onto the plane was a trip in itself. We got on the Disney Express, a nice... 90 minute bus ride to Disney and all of its resorts. I didn't expect that long of a ride, but hey, it was free (included in our hotel reservation), and they delivered us right to the front door of Port Orleans, our home for the weekend.

View from the room

We met up with Terri in the lobby and got checked into our room. Walk around the resort a bit, find our room in the back (fine with me!) and.. its a little tiny. I should have expected it, but I was surprised how small it was for being a Disney "resort." I hear "resort" and think big spacious rooms, luxury bathrooms, 24/7 service. This was none of those things. It was a hotel. It was a FINE hotel, don't get me wrong, but my expectations were way off.

After unpacking and relaxing a little, we went out to the Expo to pick up packets and see what was going on. This was at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, outside of our "resort" area. We ran into one of Amy's friends there, and she buddied up with us through the pickup and expo. The expo was nice, but Detroit's was better (I'm biased, I know!). However, THIS expo had Jeff Galloway. If you're not a runner, you're probably not impressed. But I'm a runner and I was impressed- and I stood in line to talk to him and say thanks- between his Galloway Method and Hal Higedon's Training Plans, I was able to complete my first half and full. The man made it possible for me to be able to run. I got to say thanks, get his autograph, and feel giddy for the rest of the night.

Me and Galloway!

After packet pickup, we went to Downtown Disney to get dinner and check out the sights. The last time I was in Disney, I was 14. I'm grateful that my parents took me, but I don't remember having too much fun there- I was more geeked out for Universal. We didn't buy passes into the parks on this trip, but Downtown Disney is free and since we're staying at a resort, we had free transportation to/from the area. My one request for Downtown Disney was to go to the newly-opened Pandora store and buy my travel charm.

Let me talk about the charm thing for a second. My mom bought me a Pandora bracelet for Christmas 2013. She bought it thinking that my ex and the kids could pick out different charms for me (with different price values), and it would a nice addition to my nearly non-existent jewelry repertoire. The bracelet would "tell the story" of my life with him and the kids. Of course, as luck would have it, the ex and I split 3 weeks prior to that Christmas, and the bracelet was already purchased. So I've made this bracelet MY bracelet- it's telling the story of my reemergence into the person I was before the relationship. I love it. Mom started me out with an "E" charm (for Elizabeth- duh). The day after Christmas, I bought a ladybug charm for good luck. In January, I bought the Vegas dice (2 piece set only available IN Vegas) as that was my first trip/major mark of my recovery since the split. When I got my house in April, I bought a little house charm. I later bought the Detroit "D" charm to represent my home and my first half- and full- marathon. You get the picture. So the Disney Pandora charm was something I put money aside for and wanted to buy for myself.

Expo Fun!

Pandora partnered with Disney just a few months prior to this trip, and the grand opening of the park stores was on Wine and Dine weekend. You can get Pandora charms anywhere, but they're starting to put "exclusive" charms in certain areas. Like in Vegas, you can only get the dual dice charm. In Disney, as of that DAY, you can get "park exclusive" charms. The one I wanted (blue sorcerer's hat) was sold out- it sold out in 15 minutes, according to the sales clerk!- so I got the Minnie Mouse hat charm-- which sold out 5 minutes after I had it in my hand. Whoa. I heard the announcement as I was leaving the store that the charm was out.

I put the charm on my bracelet immediately, and we went to dinner. Dinner was at the Rainforest Cafe- yes, it was touristy, but it was the only place not swarmed with people- and we got to sit outside in the bar area. That would have been totally fine if the temp had not dropped by like 20 degrees. We all ate our dinners, teeth chattering, wrapped up in our free Disney expo shirts. We didn't do much else after dinner, as the next night was the race, so we went back to the hotel and crashed.

Next day, we wanted to limit our walking around a bit, since we had a half-marathon to do that night. I spent some time by the pool, went down the waterslide (I have no shame- I waited in line with the kids), took in some hot tub time, took a nap while the girls went to Downtown Disney.. it was a really nice rest day. Then, it was time to get dinner, get ready, and board the buses to the race.

We all decided prior to the race to run in costumes loosely based on specific Disney characters, complete with tutus. I had a Snow White theme happening, with a blue top, red cape, blue/yellow/red tutu, and yellow shorts and running pants. Amy had a Stormtrooper Princess thing happening, Kerry was decked out in Ariel (Little Mermaid) colors, and Terri was rocking the Princess Ana (Frozen) look. We looked adorable-- until the rain hit! Then the three of THEM looked adorable. But I'll get to that later...

So the race was set to start at 10:30pm-- for those who submitted proof of time. Our corral was the non-proof of time group, which was mixed with walkers, runners, and just other randoms. We had to get to the race location by 8pm. TWO AND A HALF HOURS EARLY! But, Disney did not disappoint- they had music blaring, a stage show going, and characters out in costumes to pose for photos. Of course we got our pictures taken with Minnie Mouse and Goofy- why wouldn't we?!

While waiting in our corrals when told to move into the groups, it started to rain. First, just a light misting. Nothing too bad. Then it started POURING. Thankfully I had a poncho- which Amy tried to "share" with me. Know what's worse than running in the back of a race with people who don't care if/when they finish? Running that in the rain, on crowded streets. It rained THE ENTIRE TIME! We didn't even get to cross the start line until about 11:30pm!

Kerry and Terri took off at their lightening pace, while Amy and I held back and took our time. We finished the race 3 hours later, soaking wet, and glad to be done- you run in the parks for only about 4 miles. The rest are all Disney service roads, back alleys (past dumpsters and back lot entrances to the park), and ... just nothing special. I ditched my soaked tutu somewhere outside of the Animal Kingdom, since it felt like it weights 1000 lbs thanks to the water. Some Disney characters were out on the course, where it was dry (under awnings), but since it was pouring, many of the characters were not out. We did stop and get our photos taken with Woody and Buzz Lightyear (Kerry and Terri waited around for us a bit to do that photo), and Amy and I stopped for our photo with Darth Vader and Boba Fett. I accidentally hit Boba Fett's shoulder when getting in for the photo, and, well, you can see that he wasn't amused as I tried to apologize. Right before that photo was taken, my yellow pants ripped. I tried to pull them up a little (remember, they were water logged) and I guess I pulled too hard on my $2 Amazon pants. Let me tell you a little something about ripped pants and big girl thighs. There is rubbing, there is friction, THERE IS CHAFING. Holy crap did I hurt after the race!

I really DID apologize...!

It was cool to run through the Wonderland of Light display, which was out and in full force. Since it was now November, the light display was out and on and ... gorgeous. This was my favorite part of the race, and it helps that this was at like mile 9-10. We were running in tank tops and shorts, soaking wet from the rain, and surrounded by Santa Clause images and Christmas lights. It was kind of crazy.

We crossed the finish line with me cheering on Amy and yelling for her to kick it in- I wanted her to finish strong, and she did! We collected our medals and tried to find Kerry and Terri- and go to bag check to recover our dry clothes. Dressing rooms were packed, so I went to collect my wine while the girls waited in line for a porta john to change in.

THEY. WERE. OUT. OF. WINE.

How is that possible in a Wine and Dine race?! It's not like they didn't know how many people signed up for the damn race! And you have to turn in your drink ticket FOR a glass of wine! I must have looked absolutely dejected, because the wonderful guy working the station offered me TWO Diet Cokes. The man knows the way to my heart!

We got dry clothes on (eventually) and headed over to Epcot, where the food was located. Of course, since the race had now started over 4 hours ago and it was still raining, many of the vendors were hiding under awnings and were hard to find. In fact, we didn't find a single one. We learned that Soarin was open at Epcot, so we went in for a ride- it was super cool! Of course, that was the first time any of us had sat down since the bus ride to the race, so getting out of the seats at the end was nearly impossible. I think I even heard one of the girls whimper a little...!

We made out way out of Epcot, found the shuttles back to the hotel, and passed out around 4am. Needless to say, we were all tired, a bit miserable, and a bit glassy-eyed, but we were all rocking those medals-- as 3 of us had just finished their first half marathon.

The next day, we took it easy. We slept in, walked around Downtown Disney a bit more, took naps... it's all we could do with our sore legs! Thankfully the rain let up a bit and we were able to enjoy some time in the hot tub (with the medals on, of course) and pool. And when we went to Downtown Disney, we hit it HARD. There were drinks flowing, staggering steps taken... and we just had a great time. It was a nice last night in Disney- way more fun than the race itself (in my opinion).

We flew home the next morning. Our flight was a little rough, which wigged Kerry out a bit (note to self- drug her up before the next out of state race!). But we wore our medals and race gear (Amy bought a half zip coat) with pride, all the way home.

All in all, it was a great trip with the ladies. I had fun- but I wasn't too impressed with the Disney race, especially knowing how much it all cost a runner. With about $150 in registration fees, hotel stay, flights, it wasn't really worth it to me. Now if there was more running in the parks and a better rain plan in place, maybe. But it's Disney. They are usually prepared for everything- or everything that they WANT to be prepared for. This wasn't the first ever Wine and Dine, it was the 3rd or something like that. OH YEA! The third is correct-- because people who have ran all 3 got a "Wine and Dine Spatula" as a special gift. The damn spatula had it's own Twitter and Instagram feed- it was hilarious. People were irate that this was the gift for the returners, but expressed their frustration in a .... creative way.

I'm not sure if I will do another Disney race. I've never been a huge Disney fan, and this experience didn't change my mind any. But if the group of people going is as good as this group, then.. I just may become a Disney convert after all.

Heart Rate Monitor Training

I have some friends who swear by heart rate monitor (HRM) training for weight loss and for just general physical conditioning. I've use the HRM before, but never really know what to do with the numbers that show on the fancy watch after my workout.

From Polar HRM site

What is HRM training? The theory is simple: The harder you work the higher your heart rate. The body doesn't burn fat at a high heart rate, rather, it will burn more fat while working at a middle (aerobic) level. Exercising below your aerobic range is said to increase the percentage of fat burned in a workout.  Energy used from fat is less likely to be replaced. So people looking to lose weight should be exercising at about 60-75% of their maximum heart rate to lose weight fastest.

WebMD states doesn't necessarily subscribe to the HRM weight loss theory- "To shed pounds, you must burn more calories than you consume. And when it comes to burning calories, the greater the exertion, the greater the rate at which calories are burned. Working out at about 60% to 75% of your maximum heart rate burns fewer calories than working out at 75% to 85% of your maximum heart rate. But caloric burn depends on a workout's duration as well as its intensity- and it's easier to work out longer when exercising at a lower intensity." 

 One fitness blogger suggest that for marathon runners who want to lose weight, you should run once a week  at a sub aerobic heart rate for 50 percent longer amount of time.  If you usually walk at a 16 minute pace per mile for two miles, then you should walk at an 18 minute pace for 3 miles.

I'm mentally fixated on going faster. I'm generally a slow runner, usually not topping over 12 minutes/mile. I want to BE faster, I want to finish my second marathon in under 5 hours. That means 11:30/mile. And now HRM training wants me to start running slower once a week? It's hard to wrap my head around that one. 

Let's look at my numbers and what I would have to do to have effective HRM training:

• Today's resting heart rate: 62 BPM (maybe I need to drop back on the caffeine..)
• Calculating out my maximum heart rate, I take 220-my age (34) = 186
• To reach 60-75% "fat burning" HRM, I need to stay between 111-139.5 BPM
• To reach 75-85% "max zone," I should be between 139.5-158 BPM

When I went running earlier this week (1/1/15), I wore the HRM to get an idea of where I was. Over a 35 minute span, my HR was at an average 149, with me hitting 181 as my max. I hit the max zone within 3 minutes of me being on the treadmill. And this was a slow, easy run for me! Prior to this, I tried doing a run in my "fat burning" zone and ... I was walking most of the time. It felt awful and slow and like I was moving through molasses. I wanted to do more but my HRM was telling me not to.

So I'm making a deal with myself. I will run however I want to run, at whatever pace I want to run, and not worry about the HRM. I'll wear it when doing cross training/weights and keep tabs on it, or I'll add on another "run" day, knowing I need to walk/keep it slow for the burn. I'm curious to know if it works or not, especially because I'm stuck in a weight loss rut at the moment. And I'm definitely curious to see how my overall heart health improves as I continue to train- my HRM recommends that I take a monthly evaluation to compare/contrast. So far, I like what I see...!

Revaming the Blog to Represent the New Me

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." 

That's right, I'm renaming this blog. I'm no longer only 30 years old, I'm WAY past that 30 lbs, and now, my big goal is to hit the 100's. I haven't been in the century club since...junior high? I think it's about time to re-join the fight and get back to a weight I don't even remember. Honestly, the least I can remember myself weight was still in the 210's. That's scary-I don't know what I will look like nor what I will *feel* like when I hit the 100's, but it's happening.

The Biggest Loser keeps using the phrase "onederland" - people who left the 200 weights behind them and entered, backward, into the 100's. It kind of stuck with me while watching this last season. Not very creative on my part, because I stole it from a TV show and other weight loss bloggers, but it resonates with me. Why? Because it would be wonderful to be back to under 200. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with my body. I'm a lean, mean, running machine. My body fat % has been dropping. I'm toning up. I don't see the changes, but others do- and they're letting me know.

...and every time I hear "wonderland" I think of that John Mayer song that catapulted him into his douchebag years, "Your Body is a Wonderland." While I know he wrote this song for Jennifer Love Hewitt and my body in no way resembles hers, I can get behind the idea of a guy telling me my body is a wonderland. 

So, a new name it is. New name, same old Liz. Sometimes the remake is better than the original, right? 

 

PMS and an Injury?! WTF.

I'm still struggling with my post-marathon schedule-- and body. Everyone I know who just completed a big race is experiencing the same issue.

I kid you not, it's called PMS- post marathon syndrome. Runner's World states that PMS symptoms include the following:

• Comparison shopping and minimizing your marathon accomplishment
• Lacking interest in setting a new goal
• Feelings of sadness, pessimism, and worthlessness
• Feeling lost without your training
• Not able to see the light through the fog

I have 4 out of 5 of the symptoms. I absolutely need and want a new goal. The rest... yup. I miss running. It's the oddest feeling I've ever had. I am craving a long run, missing the crazy structure of the training, and I keep telling people "yes, I ran a marathon. Thanks. Yes, I had fun, but I could've done better."

What? How could I have "done better" when I busted my butt during training and gave it my all when I ran?

I want to cry, eat everything in sight, run (but can't move my legs!), lash out at people-- and do it all again. Thankfully, Trainer Amy was ready for this downward spiral and set me up with a non-marathon based training plan. For the next 2 months, I will focus on strength training and weight loss. I'm hoping that getting into this new routine will push me past the PMS and steer me away from the ice cream sundae that I'm craving.

Monday: Spin + light weights
Tuesday: Run
Wednesday: Weight Training + swimming
Thursday: Short run + weight training
Friday: rest
Saturday: Short run + weight training
Sunday: longer run or rest

Of course it's one thing to have a plan, and an entirely different thing to have a goal in mind for the end of the plan.

I have a Halloween 5K tomorrow evening, and I leave for Disney Wine and Dine in a little more than a week. YAY running (and YAY wine)! However... my Achilles has been bugging me for weeks prior to the marathon. I ran through the discomfort, as it seems to loosen up and cooperate after a mile or two, especially with taking some ibuprofen. For the last 10 days, it has been SUCH a struggle to move the foot at all- but again, as I move, it feels better.  I'm icing it at night, rolling out my calves, doing heel drops... but nothing. It's aggravating, and the only "real" recovery, I'm being told, is rest and non-weight bearing activities.

So, some of those running days may disappear until I'm feeling ok. I went for a 4 mile jog last night and felt great, but Spin on Monday night was making me want to tear my ankle off of my foot, the pain was so bad.

I think my PMS, along with my Achilles, has just put me in a funk. I know I'll snap out of it sooner rather than later, but it kind of sucks. Even after I was named the November Success! story in the local Healthy and Fit Magazine yesterday, I was bummed out. I should've been on cloud none! Instead, I was aggravated and snotty to people. I don't get it. This isn't me. This isn't how I've behaved in the past 4 months. This needs to end. Now.

I set a new marathon goal- I'm going to Oklahoma City in April 2015 to run the marathon there with one of the From Fat to Finish Line guys. I don't think I'm overdoing it- 2 months of recovery/strength training, then back to my marathon training from January-race day. Then I can recover (again) and start up my training (again) for Detroit full (October) and half marathon training for the Rock and Roll Half in Vegas (November). And of course there will be other 5K, 10K and half marathons thrown in there for good measure-- like the Thirsty Three Race Series. Check this lineup out:

Hightail to Ale 5K, May 2 in Detroit
A Keg Party with a 5K Warm Up!

Running Between the Vines 5K/Half Marathon, August 16 in Jackson
A High Class Run with a High Class Finish!

Scrumpy Skedaddle 5K/10K, October 5 in Flushing
Just not Enough Skedaddles out there!

I can do this. I like long term goals. LOVE them. Crave them.  Just like I crave a good beer or wine. Or both.

I am a FREAKING MARATHONER!!

GUYS. I DID IT. I ran 26.2 FREAKING miles around Detroit and Canada.

I am a MARATHONER.

There was laughter, tears, swearing that would make a sailor blush, lots of sweat, but I GOT IT DONE.

And I feel absolutely amazing and unstoppable.

Here's my race rundown:

Saturday: Drove to Detroit (hotel) and let me tell you- driving in Metro-Detroit traffic while tapering only raises the potential for road rage. I had to listen to a podcast while driving because I was afraid that I would become more road ragey if I had to deal with crappy music; instead I argued with the podcasters- sorry Dave and Chuck!

 I get checked into the swanky Westin-Cadillac, which was the only hotel that had rooms available when Jodi made the reservations. The hotel hands me a doortag with the Marathon logo and my room key, also with the race logo, and sends me on my way. Too bad they forgot to activate the key before handing it to me. No huge deal, but I had to go back and forth between the 16th floor and the lobby (on the 2nd floor- who does that?!) to get the key figured out.

I finally get into the room, drop off my bags, and walk the 2 blocks to get on the People Mover. The People Mover loops around the city, hitting a lot of the big attractions- Joe Louis Arena, Greektown Casino, Financial District, Ren Cen, and of course, Cobo- home of the Expo. Once on the People Mover, I looked up at the route map- Cobo is walking distance to the hotel; 2 stops in the opposite direction of the People Mover, to be exact. Oops. So I took a loop around Downtown and tried not to be so angry at myself for not reviewing the map earlier.

I get to the Expo and instead of wandering around, I made a beeline to the back of the expo where race bibs and shirts were located. Have you ever navigated 20,000 people, all trying to get to the same location within a small room? And you know I wasn't the only crabby, tapering, panicking racer in that room. Thankfully, most people were doing the same thing I was- heading straight back for our race packets, THEN enjoying the Expo. I understand the theory of putting the bibs in the back- making people go by all of the vendors increases the chances that the vendors will make sales and gain exposure. But when you're a stressed out racer who just wants his or her packet, the vendors fall to the wayside (temporarily). I just wanted the bib in my hand to soothe my nerves. I finally got into the packet pickup line and pulled out my Enhanced License to verify my identity.  The volunteer was awesome and, when she pulled out my bib number, she proudly announced "WE HAVE A GREENIE! Good luck tomorrow and have fun!"

For years, The Detroit Free Press hands out special green bibs to those who are first-time marathoners. The bibs are a special designation, alerting volunteers and spectators that you are a first-timer and may need a little more encouragement on the course. I totally forgot that there was a box on the registration asking if this was my first race or not. Apparently I checked that it was my first marathon, therefore I got a green bib. And I loved it. I especially loved that past-me remembered that you can also put a nickname on the bib-- mine said "The Goose," homage to my high school nickname. The packet was placed in my hands, and I instantly relaxed- and enjoyed the rest of the Expo. I even *patiently* waited in line to get my photo taken with the race-day countdown clock-- green bib and all.

I met up with Maureen at Hockeytown (after a mile walk- the People Mover station by Hockeytown was out of service) to watch MSU play and have a good, safe dinner pre-race. Jodi and her little one opted to check into the hotel and stay in, and Noah and his wife experienced "lost reservations" at one hotel and were scrambling to find another one. I relaxed with my best friend, enjoyed the MSU victory, and then got driven to Astoria for my post-race treats (chocolate cannolli and a chocolate mousse mouse) and back to the hotel for an early evening.

Race day.

I didn't sleep well, but that was to be expected. I got up and started drinking my water/Gatorade right away. I geared up, made sure Body Glide was applied over every surface of my body, and put on the Wonder Woman shirt I bought specifically for the race. I needed the gentle reminder that I could do it, and people jokingly called me "Wonder Woman" during training. It seemed appropriate. I ate my breakfast (English muffin with peanut butter and a handful of pretzels) on the walk to the start line. Yeah, did I mention that the hotel was 3 blocks from the start line? It was awesome.

I made sure to do a bathroom stop when I was done with the gatorade and breakfast. Any runner understands the need for the pre-race stop.

A volunteer sees me by the start line, trying to snap a selfie. She asks "Hey Greenie! Did you want me to take the photo for you real quick before they usher you to your start corral?" Of course I did! And the people at MarathonFoto were nearby as well and took a professional shot of the pose. 

I met up with Heather, a friend of mine from an online running group From Fat to Finish Line. She is amazing. She hosts her own blog and is a visiting blogger for Michigan Runner Girl. This girl has WAY more energy than I do at 6am, but she is pumped for her 8th half marathon. The girl is a MACHINE! I hope I get to hang out with her more in the future, as she lives one town over from my parents-- and is a WAY bigger fan of Detroit than I am. Her love for the city puts mine to shame! I was so happy to finally meet her in person!!


I also ran into a co-worker, Angela, in the starting corral. It was Angela's first half-marathon and she was getting pumped up. We've ran in a few races together over the past year, and it was awesome to see how excited she was and how she was taking it all in. We snapped a photo and I met up with the 12:30/mile pacing group. Our pacer, Danielle, was on marathon #51.She was full of jokes and witty one-liners, and I was excited to start the race with the group.

Bathroom stop #2 then occurs - before we started the race, thankfully. The first wave or two went off, but I was far enough back to know that I had another 15-20 minutes before my chip time start. I took care of business and got back with the pacing group.

We cross the start line- heart pounding in my chest. No turning back now.

Until mile 1.5. Yes, before mile 2, I stop to use the bathroom AGAIN. Chalk it up to first-marathon jitters combined with my AccelGel, I guess. I lost the pacing group.

I wanted to catch up with the group SO badly, but I knew that they were a good 5-10 minutes ahead of me. For the next 3 miles, I SPRINTED (well for me it was a sprint- it was really a 10:20/mile for 3 miles), despite my brain yelling at my legs to slow down. I got worried that I wouldn't be able to finish if I lost the pacing group- I needed that team support!  I barely remember crossing the Ambassador Bridge, I ran so fast across! I caught up with the group right after the bridge and surprised my pacer- which was kind of an awesome feeling.

Don't worry, that sprint came back to bite me at the end.

I ran the Canadian shoreline and dipped into the Underwater Mile (Mile 8). Last year, I didn't stop while in the tunnel because I wanted to be done, but this year I got a bit ahead of the pacing group and stopped for a borderline selfie. Head in Canada, feet in the US, y'all.

Around mile 11 or so, some tailgaters were setting up for the Lion's game and passing out shots of bourbon to runners. Yes, bourbon. The signs read "Regret is temporary. Drink water later!" and Dixie cups were lined up on a table for shots. I just laughed- then my pacer knocked one back! Good grief! She talked about how there would be beer later on during the course, how there's a person who hands out jelly beans every year to runners, and all of the upcoming aide stations that we would pass after we passed the halfway point. 

At mile 13, the half marathon group turns to cross the finish line. We... kept going straight. It was a lonely feeling-- about 2/3 of the racers were in it for the half marathon or were participating in the team relay. They were finishing with seemingly fresh legs. I was just getting started.

At mile 17 or so, the next beer sighting was upon me.  Beer -- and Polka. Why? Because Detroit, that's why. People were dancing and handing out Dixie cups of Stroh's Beer as we trotted by. I was starting to suffer, so I figured why not- I grabbed a cup and knocked it back to cheers from the volunteers at the station. I was told weeks prior to the marathon that there would be more than just water and Gatorade on the course, and to STAY AWAY from it.

Did I listen? No.

Did it taste great? Absolutely.

Did I feel that shot of beer later? You bet your sweet ass.

I wanted to vomit a mile or so later. I lost most of the pacing group by this point, and I wasn't going to catch up. By this point, I wanted to be done. I wanted to curl up into a little ball and be rolled across the finish line. Everything started to seize up on me- and I realized it was because I was slowing down. If I kept moving, even moved just a little faster, I started to feel better. By mile 21, I was jogging more than walking again and feeling like the goal was in sight!

This is of course about the same time that the US Only Half Marathon started. People started whizzing by me at ungodly paces. I started to get discouraged a bit, so I walked a short bit and checked my phone- 48 Facebook notifications and 15 text messages-- all were messages of support and encouragement.

Aww, I love you guys.

Anywho, I started to get back into the run and out jumped a pacer I had in the Capital City Half Marathon a few months prior- she was the lead of the "Mullet Crew"- the "Party at the back of the race." She remembered my name and cheered me on. A mile later, I ran into Lori, the lady who helped me after I fell (HARD) during my trail half marathon earlier that summer. She cheered me on as I passed her by.

I could see Mile 26 in the near distance-- up a hill. Really guys? I huffed and puffed to the top of the hill, turned the corner- and could see the finish line. I knew that some of my friends were at the finish, and that my family was somewhere battling to get to the finish line, so I started to pick it up- though I wanted to die.

I didn't feel a lot of emotion until I started hearing familiar voices. First Amy and Kerry- they were before the finish line. They raced down the line with me and ran into 2 of my sisters, my mom, my niece and nephew. I heard my sister yell my name (apparently making the guy in front of her lose his hearing- she apologized a LOT), saw my other sister waving a sign, and I smiled as I crossed the finish line. Then promptly cried. My mom started crying, Amy teared up, and I cried even more.

I finished. I was a marathoner. And my pacer waited for me (and the other pacers she lost during the race) to cross the finish line so she could give me a hug and a congrats!

And I beat my goal, too! I wanted to finish in under 6 hours. I finished in 5:39:59. BAM.

I got the medal placed around my neck, got my baked potato wrap for the shoulders, and looked up to see my mom pushing the race barricades aside to get the kid's strollers through to the finisher's chute. There were hugs, more tears, and then the best part-- my niece, Hannah, got lifted up to see me. I hugged her (sweaty shirt and all) as she told me "Aunt Lizzy- you WON the race!"

Dear God, I just got misty eyed again, simply by typing that out.

Then my mom told me how proud she is of me-- and asked me to get Hannah a chocolate milk in the finisher's line.

Yup. That sounds about right! I was more than happy to oblige, because THEY were just as much a part of the race as I was. My family and friends had to endure endless talking about running, workout gear, chafing, black toenails... the least I could do was ask for an extra chocolate milk for a 3 year old.

I felt invincible- until I sat down in the car on the way to lunch and couldn't get back up.

But I wouldn't trade that soreness for the world.

4 Days Out.

I'm 4 days out. I'm sitting here, shaking with nerves and I'm still 4 days out. This is ridiculous.

I'm stressed out, eating like crap thanks to the nerves, and I can't seem to wake up. Honestly, I need to sleep. I miss sleep, but when I lie down TO sleep, I wake up either stretching out a tight calf muscle or in a cold sweat because I overslept on race day.


I did a 4 mile run last night on the dreadmill, and while that's usually a piece of cake, I dreaded going and struggled through it because I'm SO FLIPPING TIRED (**side note- I also ran 11:24/mile, which is WAY faster than my estimated pace for the marathon. That probably didn't help.).

What the hell.

I feel like my body is revolting against me, and my mind is starting to chime in. "You don't HAVE to do the full 26.2. A half marathon is just as good! Maybe you're taking on too much?"
My brain needs to shut the F up.


I need to focus on WHY I run.

• I enjoy it.
• I was never able to do it before- ever.
• Mental clarity.
• Stress relief.
• Endorphins!
• I need to be HAWT by the time I go to Florida in November (for another run, of course). 
• Or at the very least by next swimsuit season.
• I want to be a marathoner- someone who is happy with her body, happy with her accomplishments, and one of the few who actually complete a marathon. 

One of my current favorite bloggers at RunSelfieRepeat posted the following yesterday, as she's preparing for HER first marathon (in NYC):

"Running a marathon is about enduring. It’s about putting one foot in front of the other when you want to quit. It doesn’t matter if you walk, crawl, hop, skip, sprint, run, dance, juggle, or jog your way through it... When those fears and anxieties arise, shake it off. Get out of your own damn way, you are ready. All you have to do now is show up, go forward, and endure. The last 4-6 months of hard work will pay off. You just have to make it through the taper!"

Oh, the evil taper. You callous, evil bitch.  For those new to running, the taper is the 2-3 weeks prior to the big race where you run less to increase performance for the race itself. It seems counter-intuitive. You run less before the race, but you feel like you should be running MORE to make sure you're ready. Competitor.com says it best, "Perhaps the chief reason for this is the Catch-22 of growing increasingly nervous about the race itself at a time when your primary means of blowing off stress – exercise – is, by obligation, sharply limited. Some runners feel that they are gaining unneeded weight... Glycogen storage requires significant water retention, so if you’re a few pounds up, you very likely have achieved a state of proper hydration, not packed on unwanted body mass."



But the taper is GOOD for you! Levels of muscle glycogen, enzymes, antioxidants, and hormones–all depleted by high mileage–return to optimal ranges during a taper. The muscle damage that occurs during sustained training is repaired. Immune function and muscle strength improve which reduces the odds you'll catch a cold or get injured just before the race. The average performance improvement by the subjects who tapered in studies reduced their target finish time by 5 to 10 minutes in a marathon.

So I have to cut back on my miles, go slower on those miles, eat more carbs, make sure I'm hydrated, and know that gaining weight is OK.

Mind !#@$, that's what I say.  I hate you, universe. HATE YOU.

But it's ok. I have some things to look forward to post-marathon, right?